Organization makes strides for women
The name Soroptimist comes from the Latin “soror” meaning sister, and “optima” meaning best.
“Soroptimist means best for women,” said Marianne Hill, the two-year president and six-year club member of Soroptimist International of Butler County. “We are a group of women willing to work together to help other women.”
The Soroptimist International of Butler County group consists of 27 members who strive to help other women.
“The goal is to help as many women as possible, to help get them back on their feet and incorporate them back into society, and make a better life for themselves and children,” Hill said.
A Place to Lay My Head is the group's largest project, which benefits women who are the head of a household or its main source of income.
The program started through pillow and mattress collections for women and children who came from different circumstances including homelessness, battered homes or witness protection, while the Butler County Housing Authority and Lighthouse Foundation provided apartment furnishings.
Now, the group provides all the furnishings for the apartments.
“Take home with them so they don't have to start over,” Hill said.
To date, 35 apartments have been furnished since the program started in 2015.
The organization holds two fundraisers a year, including a lottery in January.
The largest fundraising event is the group's Spring Fling, which takes place 10 a.m. April 6 at the Butler County Country Club. The event includes, a guest speaker, vendors, luncheon, basket raffle and lottery ticket.
Each president is allocated money for a project of her own.Hill's project is Michelle's Mission, wherein members make fleece tie blankets for men and women going through chemotherapy.They also have donated gift cards to women veterans in Butler County who return from the military and are struggling to get back on their feet.Donations are accepted, including kitchen tables, chairs and couches, but beds and pillows are not accepted.When the women or children say the bed is the first they have had, it's emotional, she said.Trust has to be built between the members and the women they help. Women should look out for one another and have each other's backs, Hill said.“It gives you a lot of pride and self-worth when they are able to improve themselves with the help you are able to give,” she said. “Sometimes we don't even know their names.”New Soroptimist members are welcome, Hill said. Members must be age 18 or older.For more information, email mhnar718@gmail.com or call 724-321-1309.
